“In 2017, we launched a project to find a long-term partner for all the drives used in our glass heat treatment machinery,” said Jarkko Ruohonen, Director of Material Management at Glaston Finland. “Drives are critical components in terms of both technical performance and cost-efficiency. ABB was able to offer a comprehensive package, including newly released ACS580 drives and motors, as well as global life cycle services. This made them the right partner for us.”
The cooperation was formalized in 2018, and today ABB drives play a central role in Glaston’s glass tempering, bending, and lamination lines. The ACS580 series is mainly used for blower drives, while the ACS380 series is implemented for smaller motors, such as those operating roller conveyors. For more demanding applications, Glaston also uses the ACS880 high-power drive family. Glaston is also using ACS580-07 drives, which are manufactured at ABB’s factory in Estonia.
“Almost all motors in our heat treatment lines are controlled with variable frequency drives,” Ruohonen explained. “In tempering lines, we have two main drive categories: high-power blowers, ranging roughly from 100 to 1000 kW, and smaller conveyors, typically below 10 kW. The ability to precisely adjust speed is crucial for tempering process control.”
The integration of ABB drives has delivered a range of benefits, from improved energy efficiency to reliable daily operations and cost-effective system design.
“ABB has been able to provide a well-balanced package with a good price-to-quality ratio,” said Ruohonen. “Their team is very customer-oriented, helping us not only with everyday needs but also with evolving requirements and new product development. Glaston has also benefited from ABB’s responsiveness and global support network, even in challenging situations.”
“Like in any long-term partnership, challenges will occasionally arise. But ABB has always been proactive in addressing them. Overall, the support and product availability have been on a very good level,” Ruohonen noted.
ABB Key Account Manager Matti Vänskä said the cooperation has been active and built on trust. “For us, customer experience comes first, and we want to support Glaston in creating value for their business,” he added.
The cooperation has also extended to joint development projects. For example, the two companies have worked together to explore more cost-efficient solutions for ACS880 high-power drives, demonstrating a shared commitment to innovation.
Sustainability is another shared priority. With rising expectations for environmental responsibility, Glaston sees its drive systems as playing a key role in reducing energy use and CO2 emissions — goals that ABB technology actively supports.
As Glaston continues to lead in glass processing technologies, its collaboration with ABB remains a solid foundation for building smarter, greener, and more efficient machines.
“Sustainability is a central part of our strategy,” Ruohonen pointed out. “We value preventive maintenance features and reduced energy consumption. It’s important to us that our partners, like ABB, include sustainability in their development agenda as well.”
